Why To Watch
The Chiefs backed into a playoff berth after squeaking out a win against the Jaguars in which they relied on RB Larry Johnson (as usual), who carried 33 times. Before winning its last two games, Kansas City had lost three in a row.

The Colts, on the other hand, started the season 9-0 and won the AFC South. However, they lost three of their last five and obviously have major problems on defense. While Indianapolis is 8-0 this year at home and the Chiefs are just 3-5 on the road, this isn't an especially good matchup for the Colts, particularly when facing Kansas City's rushing attack.

When the Chiefs have the ball
Rushing: It is well known that the Colts have a poor run defense -- on a historic level. Kansas City's approach to this game will surely be to run the ball and then run the ball some more to keep Colts QB Peyton Manning & Co. on the sidelines. The Chiefs will plan on giving RB Johnson 30 or more carries and let him punish the awful Colts' run defense. There isn't a better back in the league at wearing down opposing defenses, and there isn't a run defense as easy to wear down as the Colts.

Kansas City's interior trio of LG Brian Waters, OC Casey Wiegmann and RG Will Shields is as good a group as there is. They will maul the Colts' defensive tackles and force Indianapolis' lighter back-end defenders to take on Johnson after he gains a head of steam past the line of scrimmage. FS Bob Sanders (knee), one of the Colts' best run defenders, probably will not play. He has appeared in only two games since his September surgery.

This could not be a better situation for the Chiefs. Rarely in a playoff game is there such a glaring mismatch in the road team's favor as the advantage Kansas City has over the Colts.

Passing: While the Colts' run defense gets scrutinized a great deal, their pass defense is also very poor. They finished the season second in the league against the pass, but allowed a whopping 64.1 opponents' completion percentage. The question is whether Chiefs QB Trent Green and his ordinary stable of receivers can exploit the Colts' coverage.

Indianapolis surely will have to dedicate extra defenders near the line of scrimmage to slow down Kansas City's running game, meaning the Chiefs' receivers often will face single coverage. Although the Chiefs won last week, Green threw for only 181 yards. He no longer is the type of passer who produces huge outings. TE Tony Gonzalez still is playing at a very high level and will have a lot of one-on-one matchups in his favor against the Colts' safeties and linebackers, but the Chiefs' wide receivers are not dynamic playmakers.

One advantage the Colts have over the Chiefs in this phase is the matchup of star RDE Dwight Freeney against Kansas City LT Jordan Black. Black has good size and is a try-hard guy, but he is not a match for Freeney if left one-on-one. Freeney had a down year by his standards, but he remains very dangerous attacking Green's blind side. Freeney is lightning quick off the snap, is extremely fast and has a lethal spin move that will give the left tackle fits. Freeney also is entering a contract year and will try to use this stage to his advantage.

Expect the Colts to blitz very little, as they should get ample pressure from Freeney and fellow DE Robert Mathis -- that is, if the Colts' defensive ends are not too worn down by Kansas City's running game. QB Green also sprained his left ankle last week, which could come into play.

When the Colts have the ball
Rushing: QB Manning not only orchestrates the Colts' outstanding passing attack, but he can exploit a defense with Indianapolis' running game when the defenders back off and play coverage. Kansas City is pretty strict about using its Cover 2 scheme, and the Colts rarely will see extra defenders in the box.

RB Dominic Rhodes could start, but he is still battling an ankle injury. Rookie RB Joseph Addai is a much better runner, however, and should get the bulk of the carries. Indianapolis has done a great job of keeping their first-round pick fresh for the playoffs. Both running backs, but especially Addai, are very patient on the Colts' stretch runs and are able to explode through a crease after the defense has been strung out laterally.

Passing: Kansas City allowed 306 yards through the air to Jaguars QBs David Garrard and Quinn Gray, and the Colts' passing game is far different than Jacksonville's. While Indianapolis' receivers are much smaller and less physical, they are far more explosive and dangerous -- and Garrard and Gray are a fry cry from Manning. No one throws the ball like the Colts. Manning is an elite quarterback and game manager who is deserving of all the accolades he receives.

The Chiefs' secondary is no match for Colts WRs Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. Both had great seasons, and attempting to slow down both with safeties rolled over the top becomes a major liability against the Colts' run game and secondary receiving options.

While Manning prefers to use his outstanding wideouts, he also is very patient and will take what the Chiefs give him. This passing game can strike quickly for big plays and points, or march meticulously down the field with short accurate throws. It is brutal on an opposing defense, with Manning seeing and utilizing the entire field.

While the Colts' air attack is phenomenal with or without TE Dallas Clark (knee), having a third option such as Clark makes it that much more potent. If Manning can get Clark or Addai matched up against Kansas City's linebackers, he will not hesitate to exploit that mismatch.

Manning has been sacked only 14 times this season, and the Colts didn't allow a sack against Miami in Week 17, but the Chiefs have excellent defensive ends who may draw some extra blocking attention on the edge.

Marco Polo

01-02-2007, 12:24 PM

It seems that review just ended abruptly. I think the game will be a bit closer than people expect.

Easy 6

01-02-2007, 12:30 PM

Sanders is out, thats :thumb:

I CANNOT see Clark going bonkers on our LB's either, he's an average TE on a great team IMO, thats why he looks good sometimes...because he's often WIDE open while teams focus on the REAL threats. He's soft, constantly gets crumpled by defenders the second they hit him. NOT a physical guy.

jynni

01-02-2007, 12:33 PM

I'm getting scared. Everyone's predicting LJ to rush for eleventybillion yards. Why do I somehow see him having like 60?

It would be nice to maybe use a passing play on the first play of the game... just to throw the Colts off a bit. I don't think we've run a passing play to open a game all year, have we?

crunk-colt

01-02-2007, 12:34 PM

having a passing play to open the game is nothing new. weve already seen that. it isnt tricky. our pass D just doesnt allow deep passes either. they are either poicked or batted down nearly every time.

KCJohnny

01-02-2007, 12:44 PM

"Although the Chiefs won last week, Green threw for only 181 yards. He no longer is the type of passer who produces huge outings."

Oh. I guess all us DH supporters are just deceived along with the rest of the NFL...

ASS11

01-02-2007, 12:48 PM

Sanders is supposed to play, according to the IndyStar.

LJ will have to eat his knee.

MichaelH

01-02-2007, 01:30 PM

Positives: "This could not be a better situation for the Chiefs. Rarely in a playoff game is there such a glaring mismatch in the road team's favor as the advantage Kansas City has over the Colts."

Negatives: "The Chiefs' secondary is no match for Colts WRs Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. Both had great seasons, and attempting to slow down both with safeties rolled over the top becomes a major liability against the Colts' run game and secondary receiving options."

Hoover

01-02-2007, 01:42 PM

Isn'ty Ty Law the Peyton Manning Killer?

Reerun_KC

01-02-2007, 01:48 PM

"Although the Chiefs won last week, Green threw for only 181 yards. He no longer is the type of passer who produces huge outings."

Oh. I guess all us DH supporters are just deceived along with the rest of the NFL...

Over the last 5 years when has Huard been the type of passer who produces huge outings?

Stop Hijacking threads....

Dave Lane

01-02-2007, 03:32 PM

Oh. I guess all us DH supporters are just deceived along with the rest of the NFL...

You are correct.

Dave

Dave Lane

01-02-2007, 03:33 PM

Over the last 5 years when has Huard been the type of passer who produces huge outings?